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Beta Tester Impressions
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Sleuth Admin
Sleuth Admin
Tale Spinner

Jan-26-2008 16:43
(sticky post)


We've officially lifted the non-disclosure agreement for testers who have been taking part in the closed Sleuth : Shades of Mystery beta tests. I'm hoping a few of them will post here with some of the impressions so you can all get a picture of where the game is and where it is headed.

I'm sorry it was necessary to ask them to keep their mouths zipped up until now, but I didn't want anybody to get wrong impressions about what the finished game will be like by basing their opinions on an early version.

Also, we will be switching to an open beta test very soon, so everyone who is interested won't have to wait much longer before trying things out.


Replies

reda
reda
Well-Connected

Jan-26-2008 17:42

Be warned! Dont start this if you want to have real life :P

Sleuth Shades of Mystery (SOM) is addictive. I've been late for work too many times since I started this ;)

For all the detective who kept suggesting that we would be able to really search the crime scene. I'm sure you would love searching the appartments and there is lots of evidence to find.

I also really like the fact the you have many more ways of interacting with townies. You can keep them happy in different ways and you need them for may more things then just WE or PE.

Ok I guess I should stop before I say too much.

shell marple
shell marple
Con Artist

Jan-26-2008 18:18

I have to give SOM two thumbs up, way, way up... It is addicting!

For those of you who like a littel mood music in the background you're in luck there is some great music which you can turn on or off.

What I like the most about Shades is the amount of control you have in building your detective and contacts.

Okay that's enough of a teaser for now... can't wait for the rest of you to try SOM.

Paranoid_Android
Paranoid_Android
Story Teller

Jan-26-2008 21:23

click click click... that's my impression of a chicken with a speech impediment...

oh... not that kind of impression?

Well SoM is very schmick indeed. It's like puppies and candyapples put in a blender and baked in a love heart. It's that good.

There are lot more townies to interact with and as Reda says the interaction is different and interesting, a lot more skills to learn, and some nice new ways to gather evidence and ascertain proof and motive.

I also like the way we can actually find the murder weapon now too, and that there are different modes of death to be match with specific types of weapons.

Anyway I'll let someone else have a go... there's lots more to say.

Jojo
Jojo
Old Shoe

Jan-26-2008 22:04

Being there from the first round of Beta, I've been addicted ever since!

It's kinda like Sleuth, but on lots of steroids, a bit different, and a whole lot of a different type of fun!

You all are gonna love it.

My favorite parts of the game (other than the actual gameplay) truly are the new way skills work and that contacts work. It's absolute brilliance!

Lady Jas
Lady Jas
The Chosen One

Jan-26-2008 22:37

SoM is very addictive! Ive loved being able to leave the case, and then come back without time expiring. And definately the background music and sound effects are awesome. NOT annoying at all. I wont say much more, cuz then that would take all the fun away... ;)

yoyofoshow
yoyofoshow
Old Shoe

Jan-26-2008 23:28

Dude I <3 SoM.

It is a lot more immersive than Noir and the game play is not as routine as it is in Noir. SoM really is a whole new ball game folks!

Greebo
Greebo
Well-Connected

Jan-27-2008 01:15

I'm not one to normaly post on the boards but thought I'd give my opinion especialy as it's so different than most people's.

I really don't like it. It's so far off the bottom of my list of things to do in life that I doubt I'll ever go back.

There's the main 2 things I don't like in games right at the forefront.

The first is very personal and I know it wont put people off - the camera in the crime scenes and when sneaking into people's apartment swings around and induces a funny kind of motion sickness in me that puts me off that aspect of the game.

The second aspect though is a major issue. Do you know them annoying scripted mysteries that don't seem quite finished and don't really give you a clue what to do next? You end up trudging around or nipping to and fro?

The main element of SoM had that feel for me and I got really bored.

So it's a big thumbs down for me, I'll be sticking with Noir and if, heaven forbid, I want to play a new game it wont be SoM.

Sorry Admin, can't suit everyone I guess and I know I will be hugely out numbered!

Sleuth Admin
Sleuth Admin
Tale Spinner

Jan-27-2008 01:31

Not to worry Greebo, I appreciate the honesty. (and no, I don't know anything about those two FA's that mysteriously appeared on your record).

Underscores a point I tried to make earlier. I fully expect some Sleuth Noir players to prefer Noir. Actually, I expect quite a few of you to. The fact is, you're a Noir player for a reason, and SoM is a pretty different game.

Mysteries take quite a bit longer to play, the optimal solving strategy isn't as rigid, and there isn't as much of an emphasis on deductive reasoning (although it's still a factor). And, of course, the pointing/clicking/searching gameplay is an entirely new facet of the game.

That said, I do think a lot of you will enjoy Shades of Mystery quite a bit. Some will probably switch entirely, and a few will hopefully play both games.

My expectation is that Shades of Mystery will end up becoming the larger game, as it will probably be better at drawing new players in. Who knows? I do know that I'm quite happy with the way it's turned out though.

Ms Helen
Ms Helen
Con Artist

Jan-27-2008 01:43

I can completely understand Greebo's point of view. The game won't be for everyone.

Having said that I love the game. It's much more lifelike than Sleuth Noir. Many more graphics and even music. I love how there's more than one way to discover certain things. I love how it feels like you are actually searching the crime scene.

As yoyo says it doesnt feel like as much of a routine as Noir does. I love the way skills work on SoM too. I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil things but skills work differently in SoM than in Noir. Even the way you get cases is different.

Two thumbs up from me.

reda
reda
Well-Connected

Jan-27-2008 02:37

I agree SOM wont be for everyone. Its a total different game play and maybe will atract more new players, as ben said. But I really hope that the community will still be as friendly as here. That is one of my favorite things about Noir.

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